Bill > SB1855

This bill amends Texas law to strengthen requirements for plat applications involving groundwater subdivisions. It mandates that plat applications for land using groundwater must now include a statement prepared by a licensed engineer or geoscientist that not only certifies adequate groundwater availability but also complies with new rules to be established by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The bill requires municipal authorities and county commissioners courts to disapprove plat applications that do not meet these new requirements. Additionally, the bill empowers county commissioners courts in priority groundwater management areas to adopt water availability requirements to prevent water use from exceeding the safe sustainable yield of the county's water supply. The TCEQ is required to adopt rules by September 1, 2026, which will define "credible evidence" of groundwater availability and specify the form and content of certification documents. These new provisions will apply to plat applications filed on or after the bill's effective date of January 1, 2026, with the goal of ensuring more rigorous assessment and management of groundwater resources in land subdivision projects.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB1855